“First of all, I want to give a shout out to my wife for demanding that I watch this documentary, and then the hard work she did to make sure this red carpet and (screening) happened,” Smith said fist-bumping the 39-year-old actress.

The Men In Black star made his first-ever appearance at the Toronto International Film Festival to help present director Shola Lynch’s documentary on American political activist Angela Davis.

Davis, who was also on hand for the screening, was a fearless advocate for civil rights in the 1970s, outspoken critic of the U.S. government, and icon for people advocating for political prisoners across the world.

“I think that one of the things that comes out of this story is we have to be active, whatever your cause is,” Lynch said outside Roy Thomson Hall. “Rights just aren’t handed to you, you have to struggle for them and that should be part of your everyday life,” she continued, praising Will and Jada and actor Danny Glover for helping bring attention to the film.

Smith said he was here to help filmgoers understand the “fire” behind Davis’ revolutionary tactics.

“She’s akin to Nelson Mandela, akin to Muhammad Ali,” 43-year-old Smith said. “One of those images and figures who was literally willing to die for what she believed, now that’s hardcore.”

“The idea of someone who’s willing to risk it all for their beliefs, that’s something that we’ve forgotten and she represents that fully,” Pinkett-Smith added.

“When I saw her story, I had no idea. I thought I knew everything there was to know about Angela Davis; I knew nothing. So I felt that it was important people get an opportunity to watch a story about a person who was willing to stand up for what they believe in.”

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Bruce Kirkland has been a reporter with Sun Media for 31 years. He has worked the movies beat from 1980-2007, and still focuses on TIFF, Cannes, Oscars. Before taking a position at the Toronto Sun, he worked at the Ottawa Journal as entertainment editor and movie critic from 1979-80, and at Toronto Star as music critic and general-assignment news reporter from 1971-79.

Jim has been a Sun reporter for 28 years. Previously covered TV beat and all entertainment fields. Scriptwriter for NHL Awards, Gemini Awards, documentaries. Prior to Sun, worked at Ottawa Citizen as entertainment reporter from 1981-1983.

Liz Braun has been a Sun reporter for 25 years, all as movies critic. Worked concurrently in TV and radio for 20 years; co-hosted the original On The Arts for CBC National TV, for example and also appeared on Canada AM and various TV talk shows with regard to entertainment news. Previously was a music publicist: national director of publicity for CBS (now Sony) Records and Concert Productions International.